Greenville venue Swanson’s Warehouse is stepping back from full-time live music, but four of its most experienced music-industry people aren’t leaving town.
Instead, they’re headed to Poe Mill Music.
The two Greenville venues are teaming up as Swanson’s transitions toward private events and prepares for renovations. Meanwhile, four members of Swanson’s music staff — Merilee Pierce, Britt Barker, Rylee Marshall and Tyler Marsh — have joined the Poe Mill Music team.
Swanson’s Warehouse, the North Irvine Street spot known for its unique setup and Greenville street sign decor, became a familiar stop for touring and local acts before beginning its transition to an event space. Poe Mill Music, meanwhile, is building its identity around a broader artist-focused model, combining live performance with recording, rehearsal and other creative resources at its Pinckney Street location.
The four new Poe Mill employees bring considerable experience with them. Pierce becomes venue director and talent buyer, Barker takes over as production manager and head engineer, Marshall becomes marketing director and Marsh joins as studio and live engineer.
For Swanson’s owner David Stone, the move grew out of some increasingly familiar challenges facing independent music venues, particularly the rising cost and uncertainty surrounding liquor liability.
“As we evaluated the future of Swanson’s Warehouse, the rising cost and uncertainty surrounding liquor liability made it increasingly difficult for us to continue operating as a full-time live music venue,” Stone said.
But rather than simply closing the door on his team, Stone saw an opportunity to pass them along.
“We don’t view Poe Mill Music as a competitor,” Stone said. “The venue and its people are all partners, helping strengthen Greenville’s music ecosystem.”
For Poe Mill owner Brice Smith, bringing the Swanson’s staff on board wasn’t just about their abilities.
“Character mattered more,” Smith said. “You can teach systems and processes, but you can’t teach someone to genuinely care about artists, audiences and the community they’re serving.”
That collaborative philosophy is central to how Poe Mill sees its role in Greenville’s music scene. General manager Jason Nodine said no single venue can create a music community by itself, and having rooms of different sizes and personalities gives artists more opportunities to find the right fit.
“Music has always been bigger than any one venue,” Nodine said.
For a Greenville music scene that has benefited from more venues, more artists and more collaboration in recent years, this particular transition may ultimately mean less of an ending than a redistribution of the people who make the shows happen.
